J&K, 19 March: The Jammu and Kashmir Private Hospitals and Dialysis Centres Association is worried about recent changes to the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) SEHAT scheme, also known as the Golden Card scheme.
The association pointed out that the government has reduced package rates by 10%, making it hard for private hospitals to operate. They also mentioned that ₹350 crore in payments have been pending since October 2024, which is putting extra financial pressure on these hospitals. Additionally, distributors are asking for their payments, adding to the stress on private healthcare providers.
Since August 14, 2024, no new contracts have been signed with the State Health Agency (SHA). Despite this, private hospitals have continued to provide dialysis services, focusing on helping patients rather than financial issues.
The government has also decided to move four common surgical procedures—Cholecystectomy, Hemorrhoidectomy, Fissure in Ano, and Appendectomy—exclusively to government hospitals. These procedures used to make up 50-60% of the work for private hospitals. As a result, many private hospitals have seen a big drop in demand for their services, leading to layoffs and putting about 11,000 jobs at risk in the private healthcare sector.
The association is asking the government to rethink these decisions, highlighting the negative effects on jobs, healthcare services, and the future of private hospitals. They are urging the government to release the pending payments, restore the package rates, and include these surgical procedures in the Golden Card scheme to ensure that patients continue to receive care and that private hospitals can survive.
As the situation unfolds, the association hopes to have a productive conversation with the government to address these important issues and protect private healthcare in Jammu and Kashmir.
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